Authorities in Switzerland announced Monday that five bodies of six missing skiers had been discovered, with one person still missing and a search continuing.
The ski crew, five of six members of the same family ranging in age from 21 to 58, went missing Saturday while on a cross-country ski excursion in the Swiss Alps after leaving the tourist resort town of Zermatt near Italy’s border on their route to Arolla, according to officials.
Authorities told the BBC that the missing skiers were all Swiss nationals, and the five bodies were discovered “without any signs of life,” according to Swiss Valais canton police.
There have been reports of significant snowfall and winds in that area in recent days, with one adjacent town currently blocked off due to snow.
The local chief of air rescue stated that it is probable that the group was overcome by severe weather rather than becoming victims of an avalanche because the area where they went missing is recognized for its low avalanche risk.
A previous attempt to rescue missing skiers was canceled overnight owing to inclement weather.
“Very strong winds, heavy snow, high avalanche danger, and zero visibility” had temporarily rendered flying impossible, according to Anjan Truffer of Air Zermatt, who described the weekend’s rescue attempts as “challenging and difficult,” with conditions only improving on Sunday evening.
“During the night, Air Zermatt helicopters flew rescue specialists into the region. They were dropped off near the Dent Blanche, according to a business statement released on Monday. ” Rescuers arrived at the Tête-Blanche area around 9.20 p.m. For five of the six ski tourers, aid arrived too late.
